Term | Description |
a antitrypsin | a serum protein produced by the liver and normally found in the lungs that inhibits proteolytic enzymes of white cells from lysing lung tissue; genetic deficiency of this protein can cause emphysema |
absorption atelectasis | alveolar collapse that occurs when high concentrations of oxygen are given and oxygen replaces nitrogen in the alveoli; if airway obstruction occurs, the oxygen is obsorbed into the bloodstream and the alveoli collapse |
asthma | a chronic inflammatory lung disease that results in airflow obstruction |
centrilobular emphysema | type of emphysema often associated with chronic bronchitis in which respratory bronchioles enlarge, the walls are destroyed, and the bronchioles become confluent |
centrilobular emphysema | type of emphysema often associated with chronic bronchitis in which respiratory bronchioles enlarge, the walls are destroyed, and the bronchiles become confluent |
chest percussion | rhythmic percussion of a patient's chest with cupped hands to loosen retained respiratory secretions |
chest physiotherapy | series of maneuvers including percussion, vibration and posrural drainage designed to promote clearance of excessive respiratory secretions |
chronic bronchitis | obstructive pulmonary disease characterized by excessive production of mucus and chronic inflammaroty changes in the bronchi |
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) | pulmonary disease state characterized by the presence of airflow obstruction caused by chronic bronchitis or emphysema; clinical use of the term indicates the presence of chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema |
cor pulmonale; | hypertrophy of the right side of the heart, with or without heart failure, resulting from pulmonary hypertension |
cystic fibrosis | an autosomal recessive, multisystem disease characterized by altered function of the exocrine glands involving primarily the lungs, pancreas, and sweat glands |
diaphragmatic breathing | breathing with the use of the diaphragm to achieve maximum inhalation and slow respiratory rate |
dry powder inhaler | dry powdered drug delivered by inhalation |
emphysema | an abnormal permanent enlargement of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles, accompanied by destruction of their walls and without obvious fibrosis |
hypercapnia | high arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2>45mm Hg); also called hypocarbia |
hyperresponsiveness | excessive or exaggerated response to a stimulus; in asthma, leads to bronchoconstriction in response to physical, chemical, or pharmacologic stimuli |
hypocapnia | low arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2 35-45mm Hg) |
metered-dose inhaler | areosolized drug delivered in a specific amount by activating the inhaler or by inhaling |
normocapnia | normal arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2 35-45 mm Hg) |
O2 toxicity | a condition of onygen overdosage caused by prolonged exposure to high lievels of oxygen; may inactivate pulmonary surfactant and lead to development of acute respiratory distress syndrome |